USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of the county of Hudson, New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 16
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The block-house near Bull's Ferry was occupied by refugees
1 He is said to have been a native of Newark, and a deserter. Remembrancer, ri., 165. The latter part of the assertion may be true ; the former part is not only denied, but met by the avowal that Tom Ward of Newark was a well known and active patriot. In the N. Y. Mercury, August 4, 1760, I find a paragraph that Thomas Ward, of Bergen County, had lost a son, who became mad from the bite of a wild cat. It is very probable that the father of that boy is identical with the notorious Captain Tom Ward, of Fort Delancey, and imitat- ed Colonel Van Buskirk in deserting the cause of his country.
167
ATTACK ON THE BLOCK-HOUSE.
and wood-cutters, under command of Colonel Cuyler. It was lo- cated on the high point above the ravine which extends back from the river, on the north side of Guttenberg. It was pro- teeted on two sides by perpendicular rocks which rise from the shore and the ravine, and surrounded on the other sides by abattis and stockades, with a ditch and parapet. The only en- trance to the block-house was a covered way large enough to ad- init but a single person.1 Colonel Cuyler being temporarily absent from this post, Captain Tom Ward was in command of the seventy men stationed there. Washington, then near Sufferns, having been informed that there were a number of cattle on Bergen Neck exposed to the enemy, sent General Wayne to bring them off, and destroy the block-house at the same time. In the afternoon of the 20th of July, 1780, the first and second Pennsylvania regiments, with four pieces of Proctor's artillery and Moylan's dragoons, in all about one thousand men, started from their camp on the expedition. They arrived at New Bridge about nine o'clock in the evening. Here they rested four or five hours, and then pushed forward for Bull's Ferry. Major Lee, the hero of Paulus Hoeck, was sent to Bergen with his cavalry to bring off the cattle, while the remainder of the force marched against the block-house. General Irvine with a part of his brigade proceeded along the summit of the ridge, and the first brigade, under Colonel Hampton, with the artillery of Moylan's horse, by the direct road. About ten o'clock on the morning of the 21st, part of the first brigade reached the post. Moylan's horse and part of the infantry remained at the fork of the roads leading to Paulus Hoeck and Bergen, prepared to receive the enemy should he approach from that quarter. General Irvine was posted so as to prevent the enemy landing, should he ap- proach by vessel. Near Fort Lee two regiments were concealed, prepared for the enemy. One regiment was posted in a hollow way on the north side of the block-house, and another on the sonth side, with orders to keep up a constant fire into the port- holes to favor the advance of the artillery. When the field-
1 Pennsylvania Packet, July 25, 1780.
168
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
pieces arrived they were placed sixty yards distant, and a can- nonade commenced, which continued from eleven o'clock until noon, without intermission. Up to that time but little im- pression had been made on the block-house, and orders were given to retire. Just at that moment one regiment burst through the abattis, and advanced to the stockades. They were received with such a galling fire from the tories that they were com- pelled to withdraw.1 Boats were now beginning to move up and down the river, but no attempt was made to land. The sloops and wood-boats at the landing were destroyed, and three or four prisoners taken. The cattle were driven off as originally in- tended, but the other part of the expedition was a failure. Gen- eral Wayne says that he lost fifteen killed and fifteen wounded.2 The enemy claimed that " the brave Captain Ward pursued the rear upwards of four miles, retook twenty cattle, killed one rebel and took two prisoners." The refugees admitted the loss of four killed and eight wounded.3 Among the latter were George and Absalom Bull, residents of the immediate neighbor- hood. General Wayne was chagrined at his failure, and on wit- nessing the slaughter of his men, shed tears. Washington deeply regretted the misfortune, and hastened to explain away the bad effect which the failure of the attack upon the Block-House might have upon Congress. Among other things he said, " Wayne for some time tried the effect of his field-pieces upon it, but though the fire was kept up for an hour, they were found too light to penetrate the logs of which it was constructed. The troops during this time being galled by a constant fire from the loop-holes of the house, and seeing no chance of making a breach with cannon, those of the first and second regiments- notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the officers to restrain them-rushed through the abattis to the foot of the stockade, with a view of foreing an entrance, which was found impractica- ble. This act of intemperate valor was the cause of the loss we
1 Tradition says when the attacking party withdrew the tories had but one round of ammunition left.
2 Sparks' Washington, cit., 116.
3 Rivington's Gazette, July 22, 1780.
169
REJOICING OF THE ENEMY.
sustained, and which amounted in the whole to 3 officers wounded, 15 non-commissioned officers and privates killed, and 46 non-commissioned officers and privates wounded."
To add a keener pang to the mortification of failure, the enemy indulged in great exultation. Sir Henry Clinton com- plimented the refugees in the following terms :
" SIR: The Commander-in-chief, admiring the gallantry of the Refugees, who in such small numbers defended their post against so very considerable a corps, and withstood both their cannonade and assault, desires his very particular acknowledgment of their merit may be testified to them.
" His Excellency requests that you will give in a return of the numbers present at this spirited defence, that he may give direc- tions for uniform, clothing and hats being given them from the Inspector General's office.
" In future your requisition of ammunition will be valid with the Ordinance.
" I have the honor to be. "Sir, your most obedient "and most humble servant, " JOHN ANDRÉ, D. A. D."1
The following sarcastic suggestion appeared in print : '
" A lady presents her compliments to the Sir Clement of the Philadelphia Ball Room, and desires the next country dances may commence with a new movement, called,
A TRIP TO THE BLOCK-HOUSE ; OR, THE WOODCUTTER'S TRIUMPH ;
in compliment to a certain General, who (emulating his brother Arnold) was lately checked on the North River, by a malheu- reuse event, and his glories (now on the Wane) threatened with an insuperable mortification."2
1 Rivington's Gazette, July 22, 1780.
2 Ibid, July 28, 1780.
170
IIISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Even the King of Great Britain sang the praises of the block- house defenders in the following strains :
"The very extraordinary instance of courage shown by the Loyal Refugees, in the affair of Bull's Ferry, of which you make such honorable mention, is a pleasing proof of the spirit and res- olution with which men in their circumstances will act against their oppressors, and how great advantages the King's troops may derive from employing those of approved fidelity. And his Majesty, to encourage such exertions, commands me to desire that you will acquaint the survivors of the brave Seventy that their behavior is approved of by their Sovereign."1
The expedition was very neatly caricatured in a mock heroic poem written by Major Andre, on the model of Chevy Chase. The whole is in three cantos. The first was published in Riv- ington's Gazette, August 16, 1780; the second, August 30, and the third, September 23. The last canto was sent to the paper the day before André left New York to meet Arnold, and published the very day he was captured at Tarrytown. Its com- position may have been suggested by the fact that André had boarded with John Thompson, the Wood-cutting Agent at New York. It was written at headquarters, number one Broadway, except the first canto, which was written at Elizabeth-Town. Its title was " The Cow Chase, in three Cantos ; Published on oc- casion of the Rebel General Wayne's attack of the Refugees' Block-house on Hudson's River, on Friday, the 21st of July, 1780." The following is an exact copy of the poem as it ap- peared in the Gazette :
1 Rivington's Gazette, Dec. 13, 1780.
171
ANDRÉ'S COW CHASE.
ELIZABETH-TOWN, Aug. 1, 1780.
THE COW CHASE. BY Major André.
CANTO I.
To drive the Kine one summer's morn, The Tanner1 took his way, The Calf shall rue that is unborn The jumbling of that day.
And Wayne deseending Steers shall know, And tauntingly deride, And eall to mind in ev'ry Low, The tanning of his hide.
Yet Bergen Cows shall ruminate Uneonscious in the stall, What mighty means were used to get, And lose them after all.
For many Heroes bold and brave From New-Bridge and Tapaan And those that drink Passaick's wave, And those that eat Sonpaan,2
1 Wayne's occupation.
2 An Indian dish of ground corn boiled in water-written supaen. Irving says : "The Van Brummels were the first inventors of suppawn, or mush and milk." It has had many names.
" Thee the soft nations round the warm Levant Polanta call; the French, of course, Polante. E'en in thy native regions how 1 blush To hear the-Pennsylvanians.call thee Mush !"
-Harper's Magazine, July, 1856, 145.
Modern fastidiousness dubs it hasty pudding !
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HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
And Sons of distant Delaware And still remoter Shannon,1 And Major Lee with Horses rare, And Proctor with his cannon.
All wondrous proud in arms they came What hero could refuse ? To tread the rugged path to fame Who had a pair of shoes.
At six the Host with sweating buff, Arriv'd at Freedom's Pole,2 When Wayne who thought he'd time enough Thus spechified the whole.
O ye whom glory doth unite Who Freedom's cause espouse Whether the wing that's doom'd to fight Or that to drive the cows.
Ere yet you tempt your further way Or into action come, Hear soldiers what I have to say And take a pint of Rum.
Intemp'rate valor then will string, Each nervous arm the better So all the land shall IO sing And read the Gen'ral's letter.3
1 The number of Irish in the Pennsylvania line often caused it to be called the line of Ireland.
" Liberty Pole, a small hamlet, now the beautiful village of Englewood, where stood a hickory pole.
3 The letter here referred to is probably the same printed in Almon's Remem- brancer, a., 290. It is from Washington to the President of Congress, July 26, 1780. After narrating the story of the expedition, the failure of the attack on the block-house by reason of the cannon being " too light to penetrate the logs of which it was constructed," and the " intemperate valor" of the men causing such great loss to themselves, he concludes : " I have been thus particular lest the account of this affair should have reached Philadelphia much exaggerated, as is commonly the case upon such occasions." Supra.
178
ANDRÉ'S COW CHASE.
Know that some paltry Refugees Whom I've a mind to fight, Are playing II-I amongst the trees, That grow on yonder height.1
Their Fort and Block-Houses we'll level, And deal a horrid slaughter ; We'll drive the Scoundrels to the Devil, And ravish wife and daughter.
I under cover of th' attack Whilst you are all at blows, From English Neighb'rhood and Tinack Will drive away the Cows.
For well you know the latter is The serious operation And fighting with the Refugees Is only demonstration.
More truth than poetry, for to such an extent did the woodcutters play " h-1 among the trees" in this county that, it is said, from Bull's Ferry to Ber- gen Point, they did not leave a stick large enough for a whipstock. At one time the growth of timber on the ridge was fine and heavy. In the early days New York city depended upon our forests for the defence of the city. When Cornbury feared the approach of the French, he wrote as follows :
" NEW YORK, May the 16th, 1706.
" GENTLEMEN :
" Having had intelligence lately from the West Indies that a French Squad- ron of Men-of-Warr, with Land forces on board them, intend to attack this place, I am taking the best methods I can to put the place into a posture of defence, for which purpose I shall want a considerable number of Stockades, and being informed that there are a great number of trees growing upon bergen point fit for that purpose, I send this therefore to desire that you will allow some per- sons who shall be sent from hence to cut the Stockades we want, and likewise that some of your people may help with their Carts to bring them to the water side, for which they shall be paid.
" I am,
" Gentlemen, " Your assured friend,
" CORNBURY.
" To the Inhabitants of the Town of Bergen, in the Eastern Division of New Jersey."-Proc. of N. J. Ist. Soc., i., 124.
174
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
His daring words from all the crowd Such great applause did gain That every man declar'd aloud For serious work with Wayne.
Then from the eask of Rum once more They took a heady jill, When one and all they loudly swore They'd fight upon the hill.
But here-the Muse has not a strain Befitting such great deeds, Huzza they cried, huzza for Wayne And shouting-did their Needs.
CANTO II.
Near his meridian pomp, the Sun Had journey'd from the horz'n, When fierce the dusky Tribe mov'd on Of Heroes drunk as poison.
The sounds confus'd of boasting Oathis, Re-echoed thro' the Wood, Some vow'd to sleep in dead Men's Cloaths, And some to swim in blood.
At Irvine's Nod, 'twas fine to see, The left prepare to fight, The while the Drovers, Wayne and Lee, Drew off upon the Right.
Which Irvine 'twas, Fame don't relate, Nor can the Muse assist her, Whether 'twas he that coeks a Hat, Or he that gives a Glister.
175
ANDRÉ'S COW CHASE.
For greatly one was signaliz'd, That fought at Chesnut-Ilill, And Canada immortaliz'd, The Vender of the Pill.
Yet the Attendance upon Proctor, They both might have to boast of ; For there was Business for the Doctor, And hatts to be disposed of.1
Let none uncandidly infer, That Stirling wanted Spunk, The self-made Peer had sure been there, But that the Peer was drunk.
But turn we to the Hudson's Banks, Where stood the modest Train, With Purpose firm, tho' slender Ranks, Nor car'd a Pin for Wayne.
For then the unrelenting Hand Of rebel Fury drove, And tore from ev'ry genial Band, Of Friendship and of Love.
And some within a Dungeon's Gloom, By mock Tribunals laid, Had waited long a cruel Doom, Impending o'er their heads.
Here one bewails a Brother's Fate, There one a Sire demands, Cut off alas ! before their Date By ignominious Hand.
And silver'd Grandsires here appear'd. In deep Distress serene, Of reverend Manners that deelared, The better days they'd seen.
1 One of the Irvines was a hatter, the other a physician. Dr. Wm. Irvine,
176
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Oh curs'd Rebellion these are thine, Thine are these Tales of Woe, Shall at thy dire insatiate Shrine Blood never cease to flow ?
And now the Foe began to lead, Ilis Forces to th' Attack ; Ball whistling unto balls succeed, And make the Block-Honse crack.
No shot could pass, if you will take The Gen'ral's Word for true ; But 'tis a d-ble Mistake, For every Shot went thro'.1
The firmer as the Rebels pressed, The royal Heroes stand ;
Virtue had nerv'd each honest Breast, And Industry each Hand,
" In Valour's Phrenzy,2 Hamilton " Rode like a Soldier big,
" And Secretary Harrison, "With Pen stuck in his Wig."
after two years' captivity in Canada, now commanded the Second Pennsylvania Regiment. He died August 2, 1804. Brigadier James Irvine, of the militia. was taken prisoner at Chestnut Hill, near Germantown, in December, 1777.
1 Wayne attributed his failure to the lightness of his guns, which he thought made no impression on the walls of the house. In this he was mistaken. Sparks' Washington, vii., 117.
2 Vide Lee's trial. " When General Washington asked me if I would remain in front and retain the command, or he should take it, and I had answered that I undoubtedly would, and that he would see that I myself should be of the last to leave the field ; Colonel Hamilton, flourishing his sword, immediately ex- claimed : 'That's right, my dear General, and I will stay, and we will all die here in this spot.' * * * I could not but be surprised at his expression, but observing him much flustered and in a sort of phrenzy of calor, I calmly requested him," &c., &c. Harrison, mentioned in this verse, had met Andre at Amboy.
177
ANDRÉ'S COW CHASE.
" But lest the Chieftain Washington, "Should mourn them in the Mumps,1
" The Fate of Withrington to shun,
" They fought behind the Stumps."2
But ah, Thadaeus Posset, why Should thy Poor Soul elope, And why should Titus Hooper3 die, Ah die-without a rope.
Apostate Murphy, thou to whom Fair Shela ne'er was cruel, In death, shul't hear her mourn thy Doom, Auch wou'd you die, my Jewel ?4
1 A disorder prevalent in the American lines.
2 For Witherington needs must I wayle, As one in doleful dumps ; For when his leggs were smitten off He fought upon his stumps.
The battle of Chevy Chase, or Otterbourne, on the borders of Scotland, was fought August 5, 1388, between the families of Percy and Douglass. The song was probably written much after that time, though long before 1588, as Hearne supposes. In the old copy of the ballad the lines run thus :
For Wetharryngton my harte was wo That ever he slayne shulde be, For when both his leggis weare hewyne in to He knyled and fought upon his kne.
: This naine should be written Hopper. His house was at Wagraw, above Aquackanonck, on the east side of the Passaic, near Hopper's mill. He was a miller, and the tories under John Van de Roder, a neighbor, one night took possession of the mill. Hopper's wife, hearing the noise, awoke her husband, and told him that some persons were in the mill. He arose, went to the door and demanded to know who was there, and was shot through the hand. They then rushed into the house, seized him, and compelled his wife to hold a candle while they thrust nineteen bayonets into him. At the time of this cruel murder Van de Roder exclaimed, " This is for an old grudge."
4 Vide Irish song, " Smollett's Rehearsal."
12
178
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Thee Nathan Pumpkin I lament, Of melancholy Fate, The Grey Goose stolen as he went, In his Heart's Blood was wet.1
Now as the Fight was further fought, And Balls began to thicken, The Fray assum'd, the Gen'ral's thought, The Colour of a licking.
Yet undismay'd the Chiefs Command, And, to redeem the Day. Cry, SOLDIERS CHARGE ! they hear, they stand, They turn and run away.
CANTO III.
Not all delights the bloody spear, Or horrid din of battle, There are, I'm sure, who'd like to hear A word about the Cattle.
The Chief whom we beheld of late, Near Schralenberg haranguing, At Yan Van Poop's? unconscious sat, Of Irving's hearty banging,
Whilst valiant Lee, with courage wild, Most bravely did oppose The tears of woman and of child, Who begg'd he'd leave the Cows.
1 Against Sir Hugh Montgomery So right the shaft he sett, The gray goose wing that was thereon In his heart's blood was wett.
? He kept a dram-shop.
179
ANDRÉ'S COW CHASE.
But Wayne, of sympathizing heart, Required a relief Not all the blessings could impart Of battle or of beef ;
For now a prey to female charms, His soul took more delight in A lovely Hamadryad's1 arms, Than cow driving or fighting :
A nymph, the Refugees had drove Far from her native tree, Just happen'd to be on the move, When up came Wayne and Lee.
She in mad Anthony's fierce eye The hero saw pourtray'd, And all in tears she took him by -The bridle of his Jade.
Hear, said the nymph, O great Commander ! No human lamentations ; The trees you see them cutting yonder Are all my near relations,
And I, forlorn ! implore thine aid, To free the sacred grove ; So shall thy prowess be repaid With an immortal's love.
Now some, to prove she was a Goddess, Said this enchanting Fair Had late retired from the Bodies,? In all the pomp of war ;
1 A deity of the woods.
2 A cant appellation given among the soldiery to the corps that had the honor to guard his majesty's person.
180
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
That drums and merry fifes had play'd To honour her retreat, And Cunningham1 himself convey'd The lady thro' the street.
Great Wayne, by soft compassion sway'd, To no inquiry stoops, But takes the fair afflicted maid Right into Yan Van Poop's.
So Roman Anthony, they say, Disgrae'd th' imperial banner, And for a gipsy lost a day, Like Anthony the Tanner.
The Hamadryad had but half Received redress from Wayne,
When drums and Colours cow and calf, Came down the road amain.
All in a cloud of dust were seen The sheep, the horse, the goat, The gentle heifer, ass obscene ; The Yearling and the shoat,
The pack-horses with fowls came by, Befeather'd on each side, Like Pegasus, the horse that I And other poets ride.
Sublime upon his stirrups rose The mighty Lee behind, And drove the terror-smitten cows. Like chaff before the wind.
But sudden see the woods above Pour down another corps, All helter skelter in a drove, Like that I sung before.
1 Cunningham was Provost-Marshal in New York.
181
ANDRÉ'S COW CHASE.
Irving and terror in the van, Came flying all abroad, And cannon, colours, horse and man Ran tumbling to the road.
Still as he fled, 'twas Irving's ery, And his example too, "Run on, my merry men all-For why ? " The shot will not go thro'.1
As when two kennels in the street. Swell'd with a recent rain, In gushing streams together meet, And seek the neighbouring drain,
So meet these dung-born tribes? in one, As swift in their career, And so to Newbridge they ran on,- But all the cows got clear.
Poor Parson Caldwell,3 all in wonder, Saw the returning train, And mourn'd to Wayne the lack of plunder. For them to steal again.
1 Five Refugees ('tis true) were found Stiff on the block-house floor, But then 'tis thought the shot went round And in at the back door. Under Andre's signature to a MS. copy of " The Cow Chase " are endorsed these lines :
" When the epic strain was sung The poet by the neck was hung, And to his cost he finds too late The dung-born tribes decide his fate."
" Rev. James Caldwell, of New Jersey. His wife was shot by one of Knyp- hausen's men. When Knyphausen made his excursion to Springfield, Mr. C. collected the hymn books of his church for wadding. " Put a little Watts into them," said he to the soldiers. He was shot by James Morgan, one of the twelve months men, at Elizabethtown Point, on the 24th of November, 1781 He had gone down to the Point to meet a Miss Murray, who had come up from New York. He had placed her in his carriage, and returned to the boat for a
182
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
For 'twas his right to seize the spoil, and To share with each commander As he had done at Staten Island With frost-bit Alexander.1
In his dismay the frantic priest Began to grow prophetic, You had swore, to see his lab'ring breast, He'd taken an emetic.
I view a future day, said he, Brighter than this day dark is,
And you shall see what you shall see, Ha! ha ! one pretty Marquis ;2
And he shall come to Paulus Hook, And great atchievements think on, And make a bow and take a look, Like Satan over Lincoln.
And all the land around shall glory To see the Frenchman caper, And pretty Susan tell the story In the next Chatham paper.3
parcel containing tea, pins and mustard, when the shooting occurred. Morgan was not on duty at the time, and was supposed to have been bribed to do the act. He had previously threatened to "pop him over." Morgan was ar- rested and handed over to the civil authorities. The coroner's jury rendered a verdict against him, and he was committed by Mayor Isaac Woodruff, of Eliza- bethtown. He was tried at Westfield, in the January term, 1782, John Cleves Symmes, presiding Judge, found guilty, and executed by Noah Marsh, sheriff of Essex county, January 29, 1782. The trial was had in the church, and Col- onel De Hart, of Morristown, was assigned to defend him.
1 Lord Sterling. He led a foray into Staten Island, in January, 1780. in which 500 of his men were frost-bitten.
2 La Fayette.
3 The New Jersey Gazette was published at that place during the war. Su- sannah, the daughter of Gov. Livingston, wrote occasionally for that paper. She married John Cleaves Symmes, and became the mother of President Harrison's wife.
183
LAFAYETTE APPEARS NEAR PAULUS HOECK.
This solemn prophecy, of course, Gave all much consolation,
Except to Wayne, who lost his horse Upon the great occasion.
His horse that carried all his prog, His military speeches, ITis corn-stalk whiskey for his grog, Blue stockings, and brown breeches.
And now I've elos'd my epic strain, I tremble as I show it, Lest this same warrio-drover, Wayne, Should ever catch the poet.
In the following November the Block-house at Bull's Ferry was deserted, and its tory inmates went to Fort Delancey on Bergen Neck.1 But the wood cutters did not cease their work. A good story is told of Garret Vreeland, who had a fine growth of timber where the New York Bay Cemetery now is. In this the wood-entters were fiercely at work. One day he went to New York and obtained an order from the proper authorities, that no more of his trees should be ent. This order was duly presented to a burly knight of the axe, just as he was about felling a stately white oak. IIe leaned upon his helve, looked at the order and then at the tree. He was obliged to obey the one, yet greatly coveted the other. " Well," said he, " we can't cut any more, that's sure, but we can girdle them and get them. ready for next year ! " And so he did.
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